ivinsfan
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2007
- Messages
- 9,969
Are you flying or driving?
A detour to the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument right off of Interstate 90 would be worthwhile. I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours there a number of years ago on my son’s and my drive from Denver to Glacier NP.
So, back to SD.
It looks like I will miss the biker rally in Sturgis. Thanks for the warning. What a shame. No biker mama for me this year.
How many days should I allocate to Custer SP, and Mount Rushmore?
I am thinking of skipping Wind Cave NP. I’ve been to Mammoth Cave NP and others similar to it. So unless we can ride or pet the Bison, I’m not sure I want to go there.
I did add one full day at Grand Teton NP. I would have liked a few more but hotel rates are absolutely stratospheric, both in and out of the Park.
2 full days minimum IMO Custer SP and Rushmore together. Rushmore doesn’t take long to visit, although driving back and forth will take time - an easy few hours in total. Custer SP is large and lots of scenic drives and wildlife viewing.
If you’ve never been to Grand Teton NP 1 day does not do it justice.
+1 Wall Drug seemed to me to just be a Western version of South of the Border. We had lunch there but it wasn't anything special.A little way east of the infamous Wall Drug in SD (not worth a stop), you can get a bit of Cold War nostalgia by seeing an actual Minuteman missile silo and launch control facility.
Are you flying or driving?
... So unless we can ride or pet the Bison, I’m not sure I want to go there.
....
As a SD native...
Look at the cabins in Colter Bay park on Jackson Lake in the Tetons. I think we paid $250/night for a really nice cabin that was walkable to the lake. Stayed there 3 nights and it was the most stunning scenery at every turn!
Highest US Highway is US 34 through Rocky Mountain NP. Around 12,100 ft.
I see it’s even higher than that. From Wikipedia:
More on the Beartooth Highway, which the OP might possibly travel on during his trip.
https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/810-beartooth-highway-usa.html
It made the list of dangerous highways!!!
It made the list of dangerous highways!!!
I am considering a trip next year to Yellowstone, Custer SP and then other parts of North and South Dakota. We will be staying at hotels.
I am thinking of three days in Yellowstone, mostly near the Eastern part of the two big driving loops. Then Custer SP for a day ( or maybe two?), then to other places in the two Dakotas.
Where would be a good place to book a room near Custer SP?
What other sites in the Dakotas are worth a stop? I have seen Badlands NP and therefore don't need to hit that again.
Thanks.
If you have time in Rapid City, there’s a Museum of Geology at the South Dakota School of Mines that is well worth a visit. Lots of skeletons, fossils, and minerals. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5.
Regarding bison, we came upon one of the herds in Custer State Park and parked to let them continue their journey. One of the largest ones kept eyeballing our black SUV as if he thought it was a competitor. We were prepared to make a run for it if he decided to challenge us!